Swansea pushing to land Middlesbrough captain Bates

The Daily Mail says the 24-year-old has so far failed to agree new terms at The Riverside and has battled back to fitness following four cruciate ligament knee operations.

Swansea have also made an offer for Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala who is wanted by Hull and are still hopeful of signing goalkeeper Michel Vorm from FC Utrecht for £1.5m as they look to prepare a defence capable of playing good football but withstanding a big step up in quality.